The Henson Journals

[47]

1st Sunday after Trinity, June 2nd, 1918.

1399th day

[symbol]

The sun shone fiercely from a cloudless sky, & the heat was tropical. Radcliffe and I had breakfast together at the Club, and then I walked to Westminster, in order to preach in the Abbey. There was a large congregation mainly of middle–aged men, & women, with a large sprinkling of both sexes in uniform. The Archbishop of Canterbury sate in the stall behind the dean's pew. Sir Henry Craik was there, but of the Chapter none save the Canon in residence, Charles. My text was Ephesians iv.25. "Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbour: for we are members one of another". I preached for 36 minutes, and, I think, held my hearers throughout. I lunched with Ernest, & then returned to my lodging, & remained perdu. I wrote to Carissima. After having tea in the Club, I wrote a note to Headlam thanking him for his article in the 'Church Quarterly'. Lord Muir–Mackenzie was in the club. His barber observed to him this morning: "I will not insult you, my Lord, by supposing that your name is not among the 47,000"! The incident is not without a grave significance, for it shows that the public interest is centred on this astonishing law–suit. At 6.15 p.m. I preached in S. Martin's Trafalgar Square, on "Reunion". Dick Shepperd and the Lambeth Librarian, Jenkinson, were the officiating clergymen. My text was taken from S. John XVII. There was a considerable congregation, which listened very attentively throughout.

[48]

Clarence & Dorothy Tait came into the vestry after service. The first in khaki, & looking rather war–worn. Outside was their father. Clarence Stock was also there. Linetta walked with me to Dr Beauchamp's house. He is just back from France, where he had been accompanied by "Canon" Perkins, whom he found a tiresome bore, & the French an inexplicable block–head! He said that it had been pointed out to him that Alsace–Lorraine was intensely religious, & would not be united with an "infidel" France. The Americans were associating more closely with the British, rather to their own surprize, & to the regret of the French, who however found them grasping & unclubbable. There was a good deal of sickness among the American troops, notably pneumonia. He found the French hospitals horribly dirty, but the French soldiers very good patients. A young naval officer, Commander Edward–Collin, was also at supper. After walking with Linetta to Palace Street, we walked together as far as the Admiralty Arch. He had been navigator of the Flag–ship in the Battle of Jutland Bank. He said that he was so busy at his work, that he could see very little of the fighting. Thus ends an arduous, and possibly also an important Sunday. The two sermons, taken together, form a kind of programme for my episcopate, viz. a liberal attitude towards doctrinal re–statement, and practical co–operation with non–episcopal churchs [sic].

---